Advertisement

Police investigate alleged abuse of footballer Perch

Defender James Perch pictured playing for Newcastle United in December 2011. Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

A police investigation has begun after another Premier League footballer was allegedly racially abused on Twitter.

Officers were contacted when Newcastle United's James Perch was targeted yesterday after a clash with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina ended with the Spaniard receiving a red card during his side's 2-0 loss.

A Twitter user, believed to be a 17-year-old Liverpool fan who works at a supermarket, tweeted: "I want to punch perch in his n###r head!"

The tweet ended by calling the Newcastle defender a c###.

Information identifying the tweet's author has been removed from this screenshot. Credit: Twitter

Stacey, 21, was jailed for 56 days after he admitted inciting racial hatred over remarks about the midfielder, who at the time was critically ill following his collapse during a FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur.